>The recent thread on "growth spurts" vs. "supply dips" has been interesting.
>Once again, maybe a subject here for research to test one of the theories we
>have repeated unquestioningly forever.  I teach moms about growth spurts, but
>have always wondered why I was never aware of any with either of my kids.
>Maybe I was just too unobservant.  I wonder if it's one of the many phenomena
>that are more cultural than physiological.  Kathy Dettwyler, did you observe
>them in Mali?

I measured children only once per month, and some of those children were not
gaining at all from month to month, and a few were losing weight month after
month prior to dying.  Those who were gaining each month didn't gain
steadily, but you really have to measure children once a week or more often
to really track the sort of "fits and starts" growth that Michelle Lampl and
Francis Johnston's careful research as documented as normal.  I don't have
that article here at home to check, but I suspect Lampl and Johnston did not
even mention how the children were fed (breast vs. bottle).

One further thought about the "growth spurts" vs. "milk supply dips" theory
-- all of the discussion has *assumed* that when the baby has a day or two
or three of nursing a whole bunch, it is because he is HUNGRY and the point
is to increase mom's milk supply.  We need to remember that children nurse
for more than nutrition, and the baby may be needing more comfort, more
"arm-time", more help controlling his blood pressure and heart rate, etc. at
these times.  In other words, they may have nothing to do with growth at all.

P.S.  My husband has a colleague at work (she lives in Austin, they talk by
phone) who has a 24 month old nursling who has gone on a "food strike."  The
little boy only wants to nurse, is refusing all food.  I have a $20 bet
riding on eruption of the deciduous molars as the cause.  My husband will
call this woman tomorrow and get her to check the baby's mouth and see if
molars are erupting.  I'm *sure* I'm right!  This woman is still
breastfeeding her 24 month old as a direct result of knowing my husband . .
. our influence works in many ways.

Kathy Dettwyler